Description

This Barbacoa Beef recipe is a flavorful, tender, and juicy slow-cooked beef dish made with a blend of herbs, spices, and tangy lime juice. Perfect for Paleo, Whole30, and AIP diets, the beef chuck roast is slow-cooked until it shreds effortlessly, making it an ideal filling for burrito bowls or tacos. The recipe uses simple ingredients and slow cooker convenience for a hearty, savory meal.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

3 lb beef chuck roast
1 small onion, diced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
2 tsp cumin (omit for AIP)
2 tsp chipotle powder (omit for AIP – see notes)
3 bay leaves
3/4 cup beef broth
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Toppings (Optional)

Fresh lime wedges
Diced avocado
Diced red onion

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Instructions

Prepare the beef: Slice the chuck roast into 6-8 large chunks, trimming any excess fat and removing any bone to ensure even cooking and shredding.
Mix ingredients in slow cooker: Place the beef chunks at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the minced garlic, diced onion, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, cumin, chipotle powder, and bay leaves. Mix well to coat the meat evenly with the seasonings.
Add liquids: Pour the beef broth, fresh lime juice, and apple cider vinegar over the seasoned beef mixture.
Cook the beef: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, until the beef is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
Finish the beef: Remove the bay leaves carefully. Allow the beef to cool slightly before shredding it delicately with two forks to maintain the texture.
Garnish and serve: Stir in the fresh chopped cilantro. Serve the barbacoa beef with your choice of toppings like fresh lime wedges, diced avocado, and diced red onion, perfect for burrito bowls or tacos.

Notes

Omit black pepper, cumin, and chipotle powder to make this recipe AIP-friendly.
If you do not have chipotle powder, smoked paprika can be used as a mild substitute but it will change the flavor slightly.
Using a slow cooker ensures tender beef without extra hands-on time.
For Whole30 and Paleo compliance, make sure the beef broth is free of any additives or sugars.
This recipe yields great leftovers and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.